by Ashlyn Chase
Chloe and Rory exchanged a sad look. Rory spoke up. “Me youngest sister is softhearted, and her husband is human. All they’d have to do is hold him hostage and she’d do anythin’ they asked.”
“If the clans reunited, Conlan would be next in line,” Chloe explained. “And that’s a big if. But according to his next youngest brother Aiden, he said he’d abdicate if I wanted to marry one of ’em and become queen—or rather the crown princess unless we discover our elders are deceased.”
Ryan shot to his feet. “Marry your cousin? That’s illegal.”
Rory shrugged. “If you go back far enough, there are plenty of instances of cousins marryin’ each other to keep or unite royal bloodlines.”
“But none of them have proposed…” Ryan glanced at the other three in the room as they looked at the ceiling, the floor, or anywhere except at him. “Have they?”
“Aiden has,” Chloe said. “I turned him down.”
“I should hope so,” Ryan said. “This isn’t the middle ages, and he’s still your cousin.”
“He is. And a feckin’ nasty one too. I wouldn’t marry him if he were the last dragon on earth.”
Ryan relaxed somewhat, then stiffened again. “But you could have children with him.”
She sighed. “And that’s what he wants me to do. He’d keep me barefoot and pregnant, livin’ in a crumblin’ castle. I can’t think of anythin’ I’d rather do less.”
A stony silence followed, broken by the doorbell.
“I’ll get it,” Amber said.
From the other room, all three paranormals heard her mutter under her breath, “Speak of the devil…”
* * *
“Aiden! What brings you here?” Amber let the Ulster cousin into the foyer.
He used his Irish charm, making a comment about her wonderful hospitality and how he couldn’t stay away.
Chloe groaned and shot to her feet. She jogged to the entryway, hoping to stop Amber from welcoming him too far inside.
“Chloe, me darlin’. You’re lookin’ well.”
“What do you want, Aiden?” She knew she was being rude, but she didn’t care. He’d better not be trying to talk her into the stupid marriage idea again.
“Is that any way to welcome a man who’s crossed an ocean to see you?”
“If you came to see me, specifically, I’ll have to disappoint you. I was just going out.”
She sensed, rather than felt, Ryan coming up behind her.
“Ah, so this must be the boyfriend,” Aiden said. He stuck out his hand, and Ryan stepped around Chloe to shake it.
“Ryan,” he said. “And I take it you’re Chloe’s cousin?” he said, emphasizing the relation.
“I am. And proud of it too.”
Chloe cleared her throat. “Forgive me for not making introductions. Aiden Arish, this is my fiancé, Ryan Fierro.”
Aiden’s eyes rounded. “Fiancé? But we’re to be married, luv.”
“Whatever gave you that feckin’ stupid idea? You asked, and I said no.”
“Ah,” he laughed. “You can’t fool me, luv. Many women say no with their mouths, but yes with their eyes and hearts.”
She stepped so close to him they were nose to nose. “Read my eyes. I said no and I meant no. If you ask me again, I’ll say no until the lambs return.”
Aiden took a step back and frowned. Then he quickly pasted a smile on his face. “Hee-hee. Me brothers said you’d play hard to get.”
“Not ‘hard to get,’ you stubborn fool. Not getable. At. All.”
By this time Rory was standing beside his sister. Smoke was wafting up toward the ceiling and it was hard to say which dragon it was coming from. The crown prince inserted himself between the two cousins who were squaring off.
“None of that, now. I won’t have you brawlin’ in me house.”
“We won’t be resortin’ to that,” Aiden said. “I just need to borrow your sister for a wee bit, and I’m sure I can reason with her.”
Ryan wrapped a protective hand around Chloe’s waist and practically clamped her to his side.
Rory burst out laughing. “To be sure, you’d try. But I know me sister better than you do. Trust me. She gave you her answer and it will not change.”
“How can you take her side?” Aiden roared. “You’re the head of our clan. You can order her to marry for the sake of the…for the sake of our…”. He glanced at Ryan, obviously wondering how much to say without violating Mother Nature’s number one rule.
“I know she can only have children with another dragon,” Ryan said.
Aiden’s dark eyebrows almost hit his widow’s peak. “He knows?” Then he turned his righteous anger on Chloe. “You told a human? And you-know-who didn’t smite you—or send you back to Iceland? Or something?”
Chloe tipped her nose in the air. “Who says me fiancé is human?”
Aiden covered his mouth and mumbled through his fingers, “Oh, shite. What the hell is he?”
“He’s someone who loves Chloe,” Ryan said. “And she loves me. If you truly care about her, you’ll want only her happiness.”
Aiden turned his back on that logic and addressed Rory. “But what about duty? What about the preservation of our species?”
“Hang duty,” Chloe shouted. “It’s my life and I plan to do what I like, not what’s expected of me.”
Rory tipped his head toward her. “And there you have it, Cousin.”
“You’re going to let her make this important decision? What kind of prince are you?”
Rory’s rare openmouthed grin showed his fangs. “I’m the kind who wants peace in me kingdom. Now, if you cannot give me that, I suggest you find another place to stay.”
“Mayhaps I will.”
Chloe relaxed for the first time since her cousin’s arrival. She looked up at Ryan and he smiled at her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest. He let go of his death grip on her and stroked her back with his warm fingers.
Aiden was about to leave when the doorbell rang again.
“Excuse me,” Amber said. She strode to the door and gasped in happy surprise. “Candy Marie? What are you doing here?”
“Can’t a former neighbor and coworker come to visit?”
“Of course!” Amber glared at the family group as if to say, “Behave.”
Chloe was fine now. As long as her brother had her back, and Ryan had the rest of her, she could ignore Aiden and his antics.
Candy stepped into the foyer right into Aiden’s personal space. The two of them stared at each other as if struck dumb. Then they smiled as if recognizing a long-lost friend.
Candy recovered first. “I—um…didn’t realize you had company.”
“Oh,” Amber said. “This is Aiden Arish, Rory’s and Chloe’s first cousin from Northern Ireland. I think he was just leaving.”
Aiden took Candy’s fingers and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. “Or I could stay and get to know your lovely friend—if you don’t mind, that is.”
Candy grinned. “I don’t mind a bit.”
The sparks of mutual attraction were practically pinging off the walls.
“Stay, Aiden,” Chloe said. “Ryan and I need to…um…”
“Go to my place,” Ryan said helpfully.
“Yes. That,” Chloe agreed.
Amber and Rory smiled at each other. “I’ll get your coats.”
“No need,” Chloe said. “We can get them. You pay attention to your guests. I insist.”
Amber kissed Chloe on both cheeks and Rory shook Ryan’s hand. “Good to see you both. We’ll have you over for dinner soon.”
She couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder at the love-struck couple being welcomed into the living room. Aiden had his hand on the small of Candy’s back. She hoped her cousin would soon
know what true love was like. Maybe someday they’d be able to laugh about how absurd this evening could have been.
* * *
On their walk toward the South End, Ryan realized he needed Chloe all to himself for a while. Not that he’d thought for a second her brother might order her to marry her cousin…well, maybe a second, but that was all.
“Are you up for a little experiment?” he asked her.
She slowed her pace and leaned back to see around his hoodie and take a good look at his face. “What kind of experiment?”
“The good kind.” He smiled, not only to put her at ease, but also in hopes that they might accomplish a couple of important goals.
“I’m listenin’.”
“Well, instead of passing this lovely big hotel here, what if we just go inside and get a room?” He nodded toward the fancy place next to the civic center—right across from their fire station.
“We might be able to afford a broom closet.”
Ryan laughed. “Don’t worry about the expense. I have an idea to make the experience worth it.”
“Oh? Do tell…” She smiled and waggled her eyebrows.
“I want you to practice coming quietly.”
Her face fell. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
He squeezed her hand. “Hold that thought. First, I want you to know, I love your screams. It’s like applause to me.”
Her face colored and she looked at her feet.
Before she could take that in any way other than a compliment, he forged on. “I just want to be sure we can visit your sister’s cottage, my parents’ guest room, or your brother’s B and B without having to stay celibate the whole time.”
She continued to watch her feet, but her cheeks bunched up like she was smiling—or grimacing.
At last she looked up and answered him. “That’s supposin’ I can succeed. Mayhaps you’ll simply have to take your own pleasure and leave me wantin’ a bit.”
“I never want to leave you wanting.” He leaned over and kissed her hair.
She snuggled closer. “I guess the sayin’ ‘practice makes perfect’ might apply here. So gettin’ a little practice might be worth doin’ in the long run. But aren’t you supposed to stay out of sight in case you’re recognized?”
He frowned. “Yeah. I doubt anyone we know will be staying at the hotel.”
“Darlin’, your face was all over the news for days. Just goin’ out for a stroll is dangerous. At least it’s dark out now, but come tomorrow mornin’…” She let out a long sigh. “As much fun as practicin’ sounds, the panic your reappearance would create might be worse than my screamin’.”
“Damn,” he muttered.
She glanced at him impishly. “We can go to my place. Everyone there already knows I’m in no danger when I scream in ecstasy.”
He immediately turned her around and began walking toward her place as she laughed.
* * *
They barely made it to her room before all of their clothes had been removed and flung in different directions along the way. Chloe leaned on his chest as he held her and tumbled backward onto the bed. They bounced and she giggled.
When had she become a giggler? Somewhere along the line, she’d lost that angry edge that kept people at arms’ length. Fortunately Ryan had forced his way past her barriers long enough to see the lonely girl inside.
She hadn’t felt lonely since he returned to her, and she hoped she’d never feel that empty again. As much as she loved her family, it wasn’t the same. They were creating their own families now, and even though it didn’t look like there would be any nieces or nephews for her to spoil, she could be completely happy with whatever children came from Ryan’s large family.
He cupped her head and kissed her deeply. She practically sighed into his mouth.
“I love you, Chloe Arish.”
“And I love you, Ryan Fierro.” Without any prompting, she sat up and straddled him. She took his member in her hand and stroked the long, hard shaft as he groaned in pleasure. She was plenty wet and wouldn’t need much in the way of attention to come. Why wait when the goal was to practice the best part?
She rose up on her knees and positioned herself over his erection.
“Don’t you want some foreplay?” he asked.
“Maybe later.” She sank down onto his rod and moaned in joy as it filled her. She began rocking in a slow, undulating rhythm, which he easily matched.
“That would make it afterplay.”
When he used the pad of his thumb to rub her clit, a jolt of sensation shot through her, surprising her with its intensity. He kept it up and before long she was bucking and moaning in joy. She quickly remembered to rein in the noise factor without losing the blissful feeling.
Her body trembled with the effort of holding in her screams. She whimpered, gasped, and eventually got herself under control. The sensation built to the breaking point and as she let go, soaring in ecstasy while moaning softly. Oh me heavens…
Ryan joined her with his own climax. She could tell because his movements slowed, stopped, and then his hips jerked several times. His eyes were scrunched shut and his straight white teeth gritted together.
Eventually, he opened his eyes and panted. He took one look at her face and grinned. Cupping her face in his hands, he said, “You did it!”
“Did I?”
“You couldn’t hear yourself? Or not hear yourself?”
“Well, no. But for a time there, I felt like I left my body. I could have done anythin’ at that point. I might have danced a jig and I wouldn’t know it.”
“Oh, you danced a jig all right.” He pulled her face to his and practically crushed her lips in a hard kiss.
She chuckled and rolled off to curl up beside him. The two of them lay there for a few minutes, breathing heavily.
Eventually, he swept her blonde bangs away from her eyes and looked serious. “Did you mean what you said?”
“I don’t know. I say a lot of things…” She grinned and hoped he’d elaborate.
He tapped the end of her pert nose. “And fortunately, you mean what you say most of the time. But there was something you said that concerned me. I don’t want to put off asking about it.”
“Okay. Ask.”
“Mother Nature’s offer… You said it sounded bloody awful. Why would you take a job like that? Are you even considering it? Is it because of me?”
She caressed his chest hair. “No. I’m not taking the job and you have nothin’ to do with it. I honestly don’t think I’d be the best fit. I’d probably fly into a rage and beat up a bully who was threatening a woman or child. What kind of example would that set when talkin’ about assertive nonviolence?”
He nodded. “I can understand that. I might be tempted to do the same.”
He adjusted his position so he could gaze into her eyes. “I’m relieved. I was afraid you might be getting into something you couldn’t get out of. Something you’d hate and grow to resent.”
“I could say the same for you.”
He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it. Apparently he wasn’t ready to share what he was thinking regarding his own situation. At least, not yet.
After a short silence, he gathered her close. “Want to practice again? After all, they say practice makes perfect.”
“Indeed. I think I can use all the practice I can get.”
* * *
The following morning, Ryan’s phone rang. He was blindly patting around the bed for it until Chloe grabbed it off the nightstand and handed it to him.
He squinted at the number displayed by caller ID. “It’s my parents’ house,” he mumbled, then sat up suddenly. “Shit. What time is it?”
Chloe glanced at the clock next to her and said, “Uh-oh. Ten a.m.”
Ryan answered without the niceties.
“I’m fine, Mom. Just fell asleep over at Chloe’s place.”
“For cryin’ out loud, Ryan!” Chloe could hear his father’s voice clearly. “Your mother is too upset to talk. We didn’t know what had happened to you.”
Then Mrs. Fierro’s voice could be heard in the background saying, “He’s okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine,” his father muttered. “Just stayed at his girlfriend’s house last night.”
Mrs. Fierro took over as if she’d grabbed the phone from her husband. “A phone call would have been nice. We’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m sorry. Chloe and I were—um, distracted.”
She humphed. “I’ll bet. Is she there?”
Ryan looked over at her, but didn’t hand her the phone. “Yeah…”
“May I speak with her please?”
“Why? So you can yell at her too?”
“Of course not,” Mrs. Fierro said. “I want to invite her to tea. I’d like to get to know my future daughter.”
Daughter. Not daughter-in-law. Chloe’s heart was touched. She nodded toward the phone and stuck her hand out.
Ryan frowned but handed it over.
“Mrs. Fierro?” Chloe said.
“Oh, there you are, dear. I was hoping you could find some time to come over by yourself. Now that Ryan is stuck there until dark, this might be a good day for it.”
She glanced at Ryan who simply shrugged. Okay. He’s not reacting like I might be met at the door with a noose. “Sure. What time today?”
“Why don’t you come at noon? Does that give you enough time to, um—get dressed?”
Chloe laughed. “At work I can get dressed in the dark in sixty seconds.”
“Wonderful. I’ll see you at noon.”
They said pleasant good-byes, then Chloe handed the phone back to Ryan. He apologized again for worrying them, then hung up.
Chloe rolled out of bed and grabbed her bathrobe. “Is this invitation something I should be concerned about?”
“Probably not.” Ryan was gathering his clothes, which had landed in the far corners of her bedroom.
“Probably not? What does that mean?”
“It means I can’t imagine my mother wanting to harm you. Chances are she really just wants to get to know you better.”
